Alpha Book

And so I tell you that loosely fashionable badinage bores me. And
another matter--privileged by the friendship you acknowledge--forces me
to ask you a question, and I ask it, point-blank: Why have you again
permitted Gerald to play cards for stakes at your house, after promising
you would not do so?"
The colour receded from her face and her gloved fingers tightened on the
arms of her chair.
"That is one reason I came," she said; "to explain--"
"You could have written."
"I say it was _one_ reason; the other I have already given you--because
I--I felt that you were friendly."
"I am. Go on."
"I don't know whether you are friendly to me; I thought you were--that
night. . . . I did not sleep a wink after it . . . because I was quite
happy. . . . But now--I don't know--"
"Whether I am still friendly? Well, I am. So please explain about
Gerald."
"Are you sure?" raising her dark eyes, "that you mean to be kind?"
"Yes, sure," he said harshly. "Go on."
"You are a little rough with me; a-almost insolent--"
"I--I have to be.


Pages:
208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232